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Insights into Mesopotamian Society: A Cultural Analysis

Delve into Mesopotamia's geography, social, political, religious, technological, economic aspects, explore interaction with environment, need for codified law, and values revealed in Hammurabi's code.

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Insights into Mesopotamian Society: A Cultural Analysis

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  1. Cultural Analysis of Mesopotamia SPRITE IT!!!!

  2. Geography • Land between Two RiversTigris and Euphrates • Fertile Crescent • Hazardous, unpredictable flooding, alluvial plain, desert • Modern day Iraq • Lack natural resources

  3. Social Aspects • Sumerians and Semites (Language) • BlendingAssimilation, little ethnic conflict, Akkadian language dominates, intermarriage • Village Life companionship, protection, marriage potential, help during harvests • Urban and village dependency city-states • Three classes: free landowning, dependent farmers, slaves • Women no political role, lost standing due to agri., men gain power in household, prostitutes, were able to own property

  4. Political Aspects • Priests held both political and religious power • Lugal “big man”, increased frequency in warfare over resources, chosen by community, backing of army, not hereditary, earthly rep. of God • Sargonunited cities under one king, centralized gov’t, standardized weight, taxes, labor projects etc. • Hammurabi aggressive military campaigns, law code • Bureaucracy, central gov’t

  5. Religious Aspects • At the mercy of the Gods hazardous flooding and unpredictable nature of rivers, must appease Gods • Anthropomorphic lust, anger, hate • Amulets feared afterlife • Ziggurats mud-brick pyramid like structures, house deities, centrally located, residence of Gods • Priestsowned land, controlled shrine, wealthy, powerful, rituals,

  6. Ziggurat

  7. Mesopotamian Gods

  8. Technological Aspects • Dependant on irrigation, dams, canals • Mud-bricks city-walls 8. Base number system • Cuneiform 9. Astronomy • Bronze • Pottery • Horse-drawn chariots • Boats, barges, carts

  9. Economic Aspects • Agricultural based-villages provided surplus and cities supplied markets for trade • Cities control land • Slavery existed but not fundamental to economy • Record keeping property and trade

  10. Think about… • How did the Mesopotamians interact with their environment and how did this shape their society? • Why did they need codified law in Mesopotamia? • Read Hammurabi’s code and answer the questions in complete sentences. • What does this law code reveal about what is valued in Mesopotamian society?

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